Here's Chapter 3
I don't own anything :(
When they got to the capital, Haymitch was in a much better mood than he had been upon boarding the train. He and Effie had been catching up with each other throughout the train ride, and Haymitch was beginning to remember why he had enjoyed the amusing company of the crazy Capitol woman.
However, even though Effie was still that same person, she seemed different too.
A normal Effie, one who could have come from any of the districts.
It was such a foreign concept to Haymitch, that he had not even been sure what to say in her company at first. Old Effie had been easy to talk to, because he hadn't care what she had thought, and she certainly hadn't cared what he had thought of her.
It wasn't that they had never been friends, they had been. It was hard to work with someone for so many years, see some many deaths together, and not become close.
But Haymitch had never known many personal details of Effie's life, outside of the Hunger Games.
Now that he thought about it, that had actually been fairly stupid of him, to never consider that she had a life outside of Games.
As it turned out, though Effie had never had to fight to survive, she had not had an easy life either. Until the rebellion started, she'd had a husband who never loved her, and abused her. They had only ever gotten married for social status.
Effie had hated her ex Dorgani Mander, with a vigor Haymitch had never seen from her, and she had refused to take hs last name. Haymitch was impresses by this, who would have thought this crazy Capitol girl had spunk?
When the rebellion had started, and Effie disowned all of her brain-washed friends, and never spoke to any of them again. Apparently, she had been hoping for something to be the catalyst for a rebellion since she had been fourteen.
When Haymitch asked her what had changed her mind, she turned away, and said she would rather not talk about it.
Although he was curious, Haymitch knew better than to push his luck. He knew what it was like to keep secrets, and she had already told him so much about herself.
Haymitch was also more open about his past. He told her about Maureen, and how Katniss and Peeta reminded him of them so much. Then he told her about sleeping with a knife under his pillow for twenty-six years, and how even now he still feared for his security, even when there was nothing to be afraid of.
Then Haymitch told Effie about how President Snow had tried to make him a man-whore. When he shakily explained how he had refused, and how his family had been murdered before his eyes as punishment, Effie burst into tears.
"Oh, Haymitch," she sobbed, "It was so awful, why didn't we do anything sooner?"
He hadn't known what to say, so he just put his arm awkwardly around her, and she cried herself to sleep in his arms.
However, despite those sad memories they shared, there were also happy ones, and many hours were spent during that long train ride, with the two of them simply laughing.
So, when they got off in the Capitol train station, they had been reluctant to leave.
"Why don't you come with me?" Haymitch had asked. "I'm sure everyone would like to see you, and honestly, the idea of rooming with a bunch of twenty year olds doesn't really sound very appealing."
Effie laughed, "Oh alright, I'll save the old man from his grumbling," she teased. "But only because I don't really have anywhere else to go."
"Excellent," he said, pleased with himself.
They walked outside, hailed a taxi, and found themselves standing in from of the building for the old mentor control room, and hotel, for the people directly affiliated with the tributes.
When they saw the building, both Haymitch and Effie groaned. This building had too many bad memories, and it was a place neither of them had wanted to ever go into it again.
However, before they had a chance to frown at the building anymore, Katniss came rushing out of the building, followed by both Peeta and Annie.
"Haymitch!" She exclaimed, "And Effie too, what a wonderful surprise!"
Katniss seemed a little out of character, but Haymitch was pleased nonetheless.
Peeta smiled at them both, and said, "Nice hair Effie."
Effie groaned, but it was followed by a light laugh. It was Annie, holding little Finn under her arm, and looking happier that both travelers had ever seen her. "Don't worry," she said, "I love red hair."
Effie smiled, and they were led inside by the happy trio.
The group chatted for a while, catching up on news, and talking about the restoration efforts that were happening all over Panem.
After a while, it was time for dinner, and the young trio led Haymitch and Effie to the makeshift dining room that was once the sponsor room. The food was more of the caned stuff that that had been found in the capitol after the rebellion, and although it tasted terrible, to Haymitch, it was amazing.
It was just something about being with all these people that made him happy.
As they were all sitting down to eat, Peeta spoke up, "Where is…?" He trailed off.
Annie smiled, "It should be soon."
Haymitch and Effie exchanged a look of confusion. This was not the first time Katniss, Peeta, and Annie had spoken like this. Although he had forgotten about it, Haymitch realized that the same thing had happened during the phone conversation the had brought him here in the first place.
Then Katniss said, "Ah, here he is."
It was Finnick Odair.
Hope you all liked it,
Review!
P.s.
School statrs tomorrow, so I might not update as much.
I'm not quitting though. ;)
